MP

Alan Griffin (ALP) since 1996, before that having represented the abolished electorate of Corinella 1993-96.

Profile

Compact 68 sq.km electorate on both sides of the Mulgrave Freeway in Melbourne's south-east suburbs. It includes the suburbs of Wheelers Hill, Mulgrave, Springvale, Noble Park, Dandenong North and parts of Glen Waverley and Dandenong. The electorate includes Springvale Cemetery and Sandown Racecourse as well as the former site of AFL Park.

History/Trivia

Created in 1955, the electorate is named after Stanley Bruce (later Lord Bruce of Melbourne), Prime Minister 1923-29. It was Liberal held until 1996, former members include Billy Snedden (1955-83) and Ken Aldred (1983-90). It was held by the Liberal Party's Julian Beale 1990-96, when a redistribution changed it from being a comfortable Liberal seat into a marginal Labor one. Beale was defeated in a head-to-head contest against Alan Griffin, who had had an even more difficult time following the abolition of his electorate of Corinella. Griffin increased his majority with a 6.0% swing in 1998 but suffered a small 1.2% swing against him in 2001 and a further 3% in 2004. According to the 2001 Census, 43.1% of the electorate's population was born overseas, the fourth highest in the country and highest in Victoria.

2-Party Booth Result

Labor recorded a majority of the vote in 19 of the 33 booths, ranging from 32.5% at Jells Park Primary School in Wheelers Hill to 72.6% at Springvale Heights Primary School. In general, the northern end of Bruce is Liberal voting, the southern end Labor voting.